ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) — The Grenada Government is moving to structure how religious organisations function on the island after Religious Affairs Minister Emmalin Pierre expressed concern at what appears to be a growing trend among some leaders of non-traditional churches to “financially abuse” their membership.

Without naming any specific denomination, Pierre said that some of these leaders were taking “advantage” of Grenadians by making certain financial demands besides the commitment for tithes and weekly offerings.

“We are seeing some trends that we are very uncomfortable about,” said Pierre, admitting that church leaders have also expressed concern about the financial request being demanded by the non-traditional churches.

Pierre said that as a result, the Government is moving to establish a framework that will allow for the churches here to function as structured entities.

“We are not saying that you cannot open a church, but we are setting standards that should be recognised by all churches,” she said.

She said that most of the non-traditional churches making financial demands on worshippers are either recently launched here or have their headquarters overseas.

“These persons come here from regional and international territories and registered these churches as non-governmental organisations for the sole purpose of opening a bank account to deposit the money collected.

“Then they apply for concessions for vehicles from Government (and) during that time they are also demanding that the membership give money to pay the rent of the building where the services are held even if they collect an offering and people are paying tithes.

“Some are even demanding that the members pay the rent where the pastor is residing, it’s very serious.

“Can you imagine, in rural communities a lot of people are already marginalised and vulnerable but these foreign religious leaders are demanding that they give so much to the church; some of them even have to pay a membership fee of EC$50 (one EC dollar =US$0.37 cents),” the official said.

Pierre said that since last year, a committee which had been established set up to come up with recommendations regarding the operations of religious groups had submitted its findings

Among the recommendations are a registration fee for person authorised as marriage officer; reviewing of marriage officers’ licence to make it no more than five years in the first instance; and churches must justify why they need to benefits from Government’s initiatives designed for the religious community.